Following DATAPHYTE’s report on the disparate salary structure of staff of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigerians have thrown in series of reactions. These reactions were received on the Facebook page of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting and the comment section of the story on Premium Times. Many of them point to the spate of accountability, the gross injustice in the country’s wage structure, and the urgent need for harmonization of Nigeria’s wage structure.
For instance, one Frank Bassey through the comment section of the story on Premium Times raised an issue with the process of leadership within the DPR. Bassey pointed to the fact that the current DPR Director is Sarki Auwalu who was appointed at the instance of the President in December last year. However, from the Open Treasury data, Sarki Auwala stays on number 16 of the wage list and received only a little in excess of ₦55 million as upfront salary payment. On the other hand, one Antai Asuquo Eyo stayed atop the wage list and received over ₦71.72m upfront payment.
While the salary structure is alarming, the wide margin between the earning of the supposed director and another staff who has been identified as the Operation Controller for DPR in Warri raises questions. Recall that upon the appointment of Auwalu in December, Africa Oil and Gas Report had noted that his engineering career had only spanned 21 years making him the lowest-ranked officer to take the reins of the DPR in the last 30 years.
If Mr Auwalu indeed has superiors in the DPR has hinted on by the wage list, then there are other series of questions on President Buhari’s appointments, which are often considered lopsided. In fact, through the comment section of the story on Premium Times, Frank Bassey had also raised the issue of tribalism and lopsided appointments and had even compiled a list of heads of key government agencies to justify his claims.
While the rationale of appointment is the president’s discretion, appointing an officer that ranks as number 16 as the head of the agency suggests some imbalance. Basic management economics suggest that such an imbalance could demotivate staff and affect staff performance generally. However, without being hasty to conclude, it is important that the government explain Auwalu’s appointment to answer some of the questions of its well-meaning citizens.
On the other hand, many other comments focused on the injustice in Nigeria’s wage structure. Particularly with DPR’s disparate wage structure, many Nigerians have asked about the rationale for such humongous upfront salary payment. For instance, Emeka Ezeh had noted that such payment is unacceptable in a country that is struggling to pay a minimum wage of ₦30,000 monthly.
Other commenters compared the earnings to those of Nigeria’s security operative, whose work is perceived to involve higher risks. For example, one Mazi Chuma Okereke had noticed that DPR’s least paid staff earns over ₦400,000 monthly, an amount he views to be above the monthly earning of a Police Commissioner. Another Nigerian raised the question of why DPR staff earn more than the President and even top-ranking military officers.
Some compared the earnings of staff of revenue-generating agencies to those of workers in other ministries and agencies. Anyason Eta Nkama, for instance, noted that the monthly salary of a level 12 staff in a revenue-generating agency such as DPR, NNPC, and FIRS can pay the salaries of as much as 10 workers on the same grade level in non-revenue generating government ministries and agencies.
Also, some of the reactions extended to the perception on other allowances received by staff in some government agencies. Many Nigerian’s commented on the enormous provisions for allowances such as training allowance. Similarly, comments on the huge earnings of the long list of the subsidiaries of some of these agencies (such as NNPC’s) were also received. Many Nigerians noted that such huge investment can further plunge the country into further economic crises.
A reaction from Premium Times’ Comment Section on that story had read “this is incestuous, unimaginably reckless and a coordinated affront on Nigeria’s commonwealth”. To Abubakar Mohammed, the refusal of supposed revenue generating agencies to join Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) underscores the decision of these agencies to keep up with the uneven wage structure.
Through the reactions, it is obvious that Nigerians across the country are desirous of a reviewed and harmonized wage structure across government ministries, departments, and agencies. This review should address justice, ensure that investments are commensurate to returns, and should adequately consider Nigeria’s current revenue reality. Also, many Nigerians are of the view that rather than overburden the revenues with recurrent expenditure, the government should prioritize infrastructure development.
Growing forward, Nigerian have also called on the Minister for Labor and Employment to investigate, review, and harmonize the wage structure for MDAs in the country. To achieve this, the minister has been advised to ensure that all government offices are registered on the IPPIS platform. In addition to this, there is a need to investigate the process of appointment of heads of government agencies. Among other things, seniority, due process, transparency, and justice should be followed in the process of these appointments.